Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith says the meetings have been working and more are planned in 2023.
The city has held four small business roundtables that Smith says have started dialogues that have led to some changes. One is the fire department making occupancy checks in bars and restaurants and Lima Police Department officers now being able to work off-duty security at local establishments to increase safety. The mayor says that businesses are appreciative of the opportunity to speak their mind.
"They are not shy at all about talking to us about what their needs are. But they are appreciative that someone is actually taking the time to listen to what those needs are. They appreciate the direct contact here at the city. They appreciate someone that can kind of walk them through those processes," stated Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
Smith says the meetings have also opened up doors with developers and what the city can do to assist them. She has a goal of 16 meetings in 2023.
